The Price of Politics

The Price of Politics

See how and why Washington is not functioning in Bob Woodwardâ€™s freshly reported, thirty-five-page Afterword to his national bestseller, The Price of Politics, which provides a detailed, often verbatim account of what happened in the dramatic â€œfiscal cliffâ€ face-off at the end of 2012 between President Obama and the Republicans.

Now itâ€™s happening again. In fall 2013, Washington faces a new round of budget and fiscal wars that could derail the American and global economies.

â€œWe are primarily a blocking majority,â€ said Michael Sommers, Speaker John Boehnerâ€™s chief of staff, summarizing the House Republican position.

It was the land of no-compromise: On health care cuts over ten years, Boehner suggested to Obama, you are $400 billion, Iâ€™m at $600 billion. â€œCan we split the difference here? Can we land at $500 billion?â€ â€œFour hundred billion is it,â€ Obama replied. â€œI just canâ€™t see how we go any further on that.â€

After making $120 billion in other concessions, Obama pleaded with Boehner, â€œWhat is it about the politics?â€ â€œMy guys just arenâ€™t there,â€ Boehner replied. â€œWe are $150 billion off, man. I donâ€™t get it. Thereâ€™s something I donâ€™t get.â€

The Price of Politics chronicles the inside story of how President Obama and the US Congress tried, and failed, to restore the American economy and set it on a course to fiscal stability. Woodward pierces the secretive world of Washington policymaking once again, with a close-up story crafted from meeting notes, documents, working papers, and interviews with key players, including President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. Woodward lays bare the broken relationship between President Obama and the Congress.
Country USA
Manufacturer Simon & Schuster
Binding Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate 2012-09-11
Format Kindle eBook

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Simon & Schuster
Binding	Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate	2012-09-11
Format	Kindle eBook